KOTHARI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

History ch 1

Rewrite the following in the note book

What are the Importance of Dates in History?

There was a time when people heated debates about the dates on which rulers
were crowned or battles were fought. Generally, history was synonymous with
dates. History is certainly about changes that occur over time. It is about finding
out how things were in the past and how things have changed. As soon as we
compare the past with the present we refer to time, we talk of “before” and
“after”.
What is the problem with the periodisation of Indian
history that James Mill offers?
Although Hinduism is the religion of most of the Indians but Muslims had been
living in India from much earlier than beginning of the Islamic rule in India.
Even during the peak of the Mughal Empire, there were many territories which
were ruled by Hindu kings. James Mill divided history on the basis of religion of
the rulers of the times. However, a variety of faiths existed simultaneously in
these periods. Mill, through his periodization suggested that British rule could
civilize India. He thought that British should conquer all the territories in India
to ensure the enlightenment as if India was not capable of progress without
British coordination.
Why did the British preserve official documents?
Official records of the British administration serve as important source of
history of this period. The British rulers believed that every instruction, plan,
policy, decision, agreement, investigation should be clearly written up. This was
necessary for proper study and debate about an issue. Hence, they carefully
preserved all official records and created several archives for the purpose.
How will the information historians get from old
newspapers be different from that found in police
reports?
A police report may give a version which was suited to the rulers of that time.
A newspaper may project a different story. Projection in newspaper depends on
the leaning of the newspaper towards a particular powerful group in the
contemporary period.